Sealing Your Deck

If you are a homeowner, there comes a time when you have to do the uncomfortable job of home upkeep. One of these hated jobs is dealing with a deck that needs to be re-sealed. This can be a very daunting job depending on how big your deck is and how the rails are designed. It can be difficult to figure out where to start.

Discoloration happens on decks for a number of reasons, they could be sun bleached, water stained, or molded. If your deck boards are discolored you may wish to begin by bleaching them. You can choose from a number of environmentally friendly deck bleaches like oxalic acid. When you bleach make sure to follow the manufacturers directions and to wear proper personal protection.

Once you have bleached the deck you should really wait for the deck to completely dry for 24 hour. At this point you may with to all apply an acrylic based deck stain this can add richness to the wood along with very dramatic color depending on the stain color you choose. Depending on your taste you can choose from a subtle to a bold color. Many stains also contain a UV protectant to help extend the life of your deck.

Your stain can be applied in a number of different ways. There is always the old reliable ways of using a brush and some elbow grease. Some people lean toward a bit easier route such as a Deckmate finishing pad, which is a bit more automatic, or a pump sprayer that can be helpful for rails. You may have to apply multiple layers of stain depending on how deep in color you wish your wood to go. Transparent sealant is required after you have given the stain a chance to dry. This acts as the icing on the cake. This helps to protect the wood form water that tends to sit on the deck. You can easily determine if you deck needs to be stained if you don't see "beads" of water on your deck after rain.

Though it can be a pain to deal with your deck it is well worth the time and money. Having to replace your deck is much more costly than the upkeep.

La Crosse Technology 810-106 NOAA/AM/FM Severe Weather Alert Radio with solar panel or hand crank recharging power, USA-made IC chip for High Quality Digital reception, mobile device charging port, rugged design with non-slip rubberized black finish and high intensity LED flashlight

http://amzn.to/1ectDVa